Dr. Natalia Lauk is a pianist, educator, and conductor focused on injury prevention.  She comes from a lineage of classical piano instruction. Both of her parents have been teaching piano for more than 50 years. Natalia was born and raised in Siberia, Russia, where she began her piano journey at the age of four. Later in her career, she sustained a Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), which affected fine motor control in her right hand. The injury informed Dr. Lauk's professional path. Her doctoral research focuses on injury prevention, sustainable virtuosity, and practice efficiency in piano playing. 

     With over 26 years of teaching experience across Russia and the United States, Dr. Lauk has developed a diverse teaching portfolio, including a current roster of 32 private students and positions at Idaho State University and the University of Utah.  

     Lauk's research in injury prevention and application of Bernstrein's theory of motor control in piano playing is endorsed by Dr. Mark Latash: author of "Neurophysiological Basis of Motor Control",  the Distinguished Professor of Kinesiology and Director of Motor Control Lab  at the Pennsylvania State University. (more)